West Norfolk athletes continue relay improvement

Nothing quite encapsulates the spirit, comradery and madness of running enthusiasts like the Round Norfolk Relay.The Round Norfolk Relay is a prestigious long-distance relay race that takes place annually in our county.The event covers a 198-mile route around Norfolk, typically following the county boundary.It is divided into 17 stages, with each leg varying in distance and terrain, including coastal paths, roads, and rural landscapes.Teams of runners participate, with each member running one leg.The race is unique because it runs continuously through day and night, starting and finishing at King’s Lynn, truly the highlight of the running calendar.It was a fantastic weekend for West Norfolk AC distance runners. Starting at 8am Saturday from Alive Lynnsport, the team of 17 runners took to the coastal path, shingle, sand, hills and roads around the Norfolk border with 60 other hearty teams. Finishing in the club’s fastest time of 24 hours 36 minutes and 24 seconds and highest position to date at 16th overall, once again keeping up the trend of West Norfolk AC improving their fishing time each year since 2019.Equally as important as the runners are the Bus drivers, cyclists, marshals and helpers who help those running carry their batons successfully and safely.As always WNAC had a wonderful support team for the event. Special mentions to Tim Coates for driving the support bus (kindly donated by Kevin Moulton) during the early hours, Richard Dickson for the day shift, Mark Garrett for the backup support car and Arran Reeve for running a super-fast stage 10 and also shuttling cars from stage to stage during the night sections.Cycle support provided by club members Michael Stollery, Steve Bolt, Megan Miller, Martin Sheldrick and friend of the club, Beth Moden. Team leader Martin Koenigsberger once again organised a successful team for West Norfolk AC, not only putting the team together and performing support duties for the whole weekend but also stepping in last minute to complete stage nine of the event.West Norfolk also provided a team of marshals led by Jen Gosnell to help navigate the final stage runners coming into the Lynnsport finish. Truly a weekend that highlights the true core values of West Norfolk Athletics club.The team and results were as follows.Stage 1 (Kings Lynn to Hunstanton 16.3 miles) Phil Kitney 26thStage 2 (Hunstanton to Burnham Overy 13.8 miles) Megan Miller 27th/4th femaleStage 3 (Burnham Overy to Wells 5.8 miles) Kerrie Page 48th/25 th female Stage 4 (wells to Cley 11.1 miles) Rob Gosnell 34thStage 5 (Cley to Cromer 10.8 miles) Neil Gayton 29thStage 6 (Cromer to Mundesley 7.9 miles) Mark Garrett 43rdStage 7 (Mundesley to Lessingham 9.2 miles) Dom Marray-Woods 9th Stage 8 (Lessingham to Horsey 7.5 miles) Charlie Frammingham 8thStage 9 (Horsey to Belton 16.6 miles) Martin Koenigsberger 40thStage 10 (Belton to Ditchinham17.7 miles) Arran Reeve 11thStage 11 (Ditchinham to Scole 14.9 miles) Callum Stanforth 2nd Stage 12 (Scole to Thetford 18.9 miles) Ryan Oakes 6thStage 13 (Thetford to Feltwell 15 miles) Cassie Moden 28th/3 rd femaleStage 14 (Feltwell to Wissington 7.3 miles) Katrine Wasteney 23rd/10th femaleStage 15 (Wissington to Downham 10.6 miles) Sam Stringer 41st/11th female Stage 16 (Downham to Stowbridge 5.5 miles) Hanley Angell 20thStage 17 (Stowbridge to Kings Lynn 11.7 miles) Lee Richardson 24th